Overview
The Community Economic Development Fund (CEDF) supports high-impact, community-driven economic development projects across Toronto. CEDF enables local communities to amplify and scale initiatives that strengthen local economies and build community wealth. Applicants must demonstrate an established connection with their community and propose projects that enhance economic resilience, support local businesses and improve neighbourhood vitality. This program is funded by the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario).
Objective
The CEDF funds community partners, including not-for-profit organizations and BIAs, to deliver, amplify and scale high-impact inclusive economic development and community wealth-building initiatives.
The program goals are to:
- Foster inclusive economic growth
- Enhance local economic resilience and sustainability
- Encourage collaborative partnerships for economic development
- Support innovation in main street communities
- Promote community wealth-building and economic empowerment
- Develop and strengthen the economic capacity of community organizations and BIAs.
Funding Available
This program offers funding up to $300,000 for projects that meet the eligibility requirements.
Eligibility
Eligible Organizations
The CEDF is available to the following organizations:
- Toronto BIAs
- Not-for-profit organizations, including business associations and registered charities with strong local business involvement.
For profit businesses including sole proprietorships, partnerships and corporations are not eligible to apply.
Eligible Projects
The CEDF encourages projects within a wide scope of parameters such as:
- Community Placemaking: Strengthen the identity and appeal of under-resourced or areas undergoing historical change by celebrating local culture, enhancing public spaces and create experiences that support inclusive community and economic development
- Community Planning and Engagement: Strengthen local economic ecosystems by supporting strategic planning, community-led initiatives, and capacity-building for organizations that support local economies and enhance neighborhood vitality
- Inclusive Economic Development & Equity Initiatives: Reduce barriers and create opportunities for equity-deserving entrepreneurs and businesses through projects that expand participation, provide access to resources, or foster co-ownership, collaboration or mentorship
- Community based: Initiatives that support businesses in specific geographic areas, such as keeping legacy and local-serving businesses in communities during significant disruption, e.g. transit construction or major redevelopment
- Main Street Activations: Strategically planned initiatives that drive traffic to main streets and small businesses to increase foot traffic and economic activity in a measurable way.
Examples include projects that:
- Enable commercial land trusts and employee ownership
- Keep legacy businesses in their locations
- Support businesses outside of the core, in historically under-served neighbourhoods or neighbourhood improvements areas
In addition, projects that align with the objectives outlined in the Action Plan for Toronto’s Economy are encouraged.
Ineligible Projects
The following types of projects do not qualify:
Application Criteria
Applications must exhibit all the following criteria:
- Applicant organizations must demonstrate an ability to contribute a minimum of 50 per cent towards total project cost (combination of financial and in-kind contributions)
- Demonstrate a significant contribution to the main street business recovery of the proposed location
- Projects must demonstrate a clear, measurable impact on the local community, with a focus on fostering economic growth, job creation or enhancing community resilience.
- Applicant organizations must have demonstrated experience and capacity in managing projects of similar scope and scale, including the ability to effectively track progress, manage budgets and meet deadlines.
- Projects must be completed by November 2027.
How to Apply
Eligible applicants must:
- Attend an online information session listed below
- Arrange a consultation with the program manager to discuss the project at cedf@toronto.ca
- Download the budget template. Applicants must complete this official budget template and upload it to their online application
- Apply by completing the online application below.
The deadline to apply is April 23.
Apply Now
Information Sessions
Learn more about the application process at one of the following online information sessions:
For questions about the program, please contact the program manager by email at cedf@toronto.ca.
